Trimming mechanism for sewing-machines.



No. 733,760.-r PATENTED JULY 14, 1903. W. H. STEDMAN.

TRIMMING MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIUATIoN-HLED AUG. e, 1902. v

No MODEL. 2 sHnBTsfsHBBT 1.

VVITNEEEE No. 733,760. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

W. H. STBDMAN. Y TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR SEWING- MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6. 1902.

Tui Nanms PETERS cu.A PHomLrrHQ.. wAsHxNoYON. D. c.

No. r733,760.

UNTTED STATES Patented July 14, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. STEDMAN, OF HARTFORD CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERROWMACHINE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersiPatent No. 733,760, dated July 14,1903.

Application iiled August 6, 1902-` Serial No. 118.680. (No model.)

To ct whom t may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM H. STEDMAN, a citizen of the United States,`residing in the city and county of Hartford, State of Connec- 5 ticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trimming Mechanismfor Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to ro theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to thegures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of trimming mechanism embodying avibrating and I5 a relatively fixed cutter operating conjointly with afeeding mechanism to eEect the trimming of the material as it is yfedforward.

The invention embodies certain novel constructions, arrangements, andcombinations zo of various parts and elements, whereby the applicationof trimming mechanism to a type of machines hereinafter moreparticularly designated is eected; but the improvements constitutingthis invention are not all intend- 2 5 ed to be exclusively so utilized,some of them being applicable to trimming mechanism in general. Theseimprovementsare especially designed for use in connection withsewingmachines now in use and commonly known 3o as overseaming-machines,for a detailed illustration and description of which reference may behad to United States Patents Nos. L114,718 and 591,049.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front eleva- 35 tion of a machine,showing the present improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of the end of the machine at which 5o of the needle-plate andadjacent parts relating to the present invention. Fig. 7is a frontelevation showing the means whereby the stationary cutter is adjustablysupported and held. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation showing the meanswhereby the vibrating cutter is ,5 supported and secured. Fig. 9 is afront elevation of a portion of the carrier for the vibrating cutter andits supports. Fig. l0 is a top View of the carriage to which thevibrating cutter is secured, the bolt which clamps 6o the carriage tothe carrier being shown in cross-section. Fig. 11 includes side and edgeviews of a clamp for the fixed cutter. Fig.

12 embraces endand side elevations and a cross-sectional view of thevibrating cutter. 65

Like numerals of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

The number l0 denotes the main-frame housing or casing of the machine;1l, the head; 12, the main shaft; 13, the driving-pulg 7o ley, and 14: asecond shaft above and parallel with the main shaft. The shafts 13 and14 bear, respectively, cam-cylinders 12a 14a, having intermeshing gears12h14b for insuring the unitary rotation of the shafts and cam- 75cylinders. The cam-cylinders serve to actuate certain elements of thestitch forming mechanism; but as the same form no part of this inventiona full illustration and description are not deemed necessary. 8o Thenumber 10a denotes a door for closing an opening in the frame lO,through which theinterior of the machine may be reached. The secondshaft 14 projects through the end wall of the frame vl0 and bears aneccentric- 85 pin 15, connected by a link 16 with the needle-carrier 17,the latter being pivotally secured to the end wall of the frame. Theneedle 18 is mounted in the carrier 17 and through the described trainof mechanism is 9o reciprocated in a path concentric with the pivotalsupport of the needle-carrier.

The machine is provided with a needleplate 19, supported beneath thehead 11, and also preferably with a Variety of four-mo- 95 tion feed nowin common use and including a presser-foot 20. The feed is driven fromthe main shaft 12, and serrated portions of the feed-dog 21 operatethrough openings 19 in the needle-plate 19. roo

The Various elements thus far described are adapted to perform theirrespective functions in the usual manner and are illustrated and pointedout in order that the relation of the present improvements thereto maybe more clearly comprehended from the follow ing description:

As is usual in overseaming-machines, the trimming-cutters are locatedand adapted to coact in substantially the plane of the top of theneedle-plate and somewhat in advance and to the right of the point atwhich the needle penetrates the material (as the machine is viewed fromits front side) in order that the overseam stitches may be formed uponthe trimmed edge of the material and at a point in proximity to thetrimmer. Of the said cutters one is adapted to vibrate and is denoted bythe number 22. The companion cutter is preferably fixed relatively tothe vibrating cutter when the trimming mechanism is in operation and insaid drawings is denoted bythe number 23. The vibrating cutter isoperated by a lever or carrier 24, extending transversely to the shaft14E and through intermediate mechanism receives vibratory motion fromthe said shaft. The rear end of the carrier 24 projects through the wallof the machine-frame l0 and is pivoted in a cap 25 (secured to the backside of the said frame) upon a pin 26, journaled in the cap 25, the axisof the said pin being preferably located in the plane of the top of theneedle-plate 19. To support the forward end of the carrier 24 and impartvibratory motion thereto and to the cutter 22, the shaft 1l is providedwith an eccentric 27, preferably formed on or attached to thecam-cylinder. The eccentric 27 is adapted to rotate in a block 28, whichis slidably mounted in a slot or opening 24J in the lever 24, the saidopening being preferably provided with a removable cap 24C. At itsforward end the lever 24 has a laterally-extending projection 24d'provided with a dovetail groove 245, in which a carriage 29 is adjustably secured, the cutter 22 being in turn secured to the carriage ina manner to be presently explained. To insure theretention of thecutter22 in proper coaction with the cutter 23 after adjustment, theforward end of the lever 24 is preferably an exact working fit betweenthe end of the cam-cylinder 14 and the adjacent end wall of themachineframe l0, (see dotted lines in Fig. 6,) thus preventingr sidewisespring or play of the lever 24C, while permitting of its verticalmovement. With this arrangement the lever 24 is. located within themachineframe l0, being thereby protected from dirt and from injury or`entanglement with the clippings occasioned by the trimming operationand in a large degree confines the scattering oil to the interior of themachine. Further, the said lever is hidden from View, thereby preservingin a large degree the usual exterior appearance of the machine.

The vibrating cutter 22 is of peculiar and novel construction. It ispreferably made of a bar of steel angular in cross-section, with itscutting end at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the bar. Saidcutter is therefore arranged in its support in a diagonal positionsubstantially corresponding to the angle of its cutting end. Thecutting-angle of the cutter may, however, be square or at an angle ofninety degrees or any suitable acute angle, and it will be obvious thatit will be so disposed or mounted in its support that its `cutting-faceshall be in substantially the same plane as its movements. The linke orwing22n of the cutter-bar is preferably rounded at its edge and acts asa guard or guide, remaining in contact with the adjacent face of itscompanion cutter 23 at all times, while the cutting edge 22b acts as ashear against the cutting edge of the said companion cutter. The cutter22, as shown in the drawings, is made with its wings at an angle ofsubstantially ninety degrees, which has been found preferable for themachine illustrated, but obviously is :not essential. It will beobserved that this knife can be ground and reground on its angularcutting end as it wears or becomes dull without destroying its form andthat of its guard or guide. Cutters provided with guides or guards asheretofore made and used in sewing machines have been ground orsharpened on the angle away from or not in contact with the face of thecompanion cutter and have been difficult to grind or sharpen, especiallyat the point where the guard joins the cutting edge. The Wear of theguard has also much injured its usefulness. The cutter,made in angularform and ground or sharpened across or upon the cutting end, includingthe whole surface of the guard, can be reground or sharpened andentirely restored to its original form and eii'iciency, and,furthermore, the form of this cutter conduces toits rigidity anddurability.

Referring now to the manner in which the vibrating cutter 22 is securedto the carriage 29, it will be seen that the said carriage has on itsfront face a diagonal groove 291 for the reception of the cutter andalso an integral block 29".

The number 30 denotes a clamp secured to the block 29" by a screw 31,and the said clamp has two wings 30, adapted, respectively, to engagethe carriage 29 and the cutter 22 to clamp the latter in the groove inthe carriage.

As before stated, the trimming-cutters engage each other insubstantially the plane of the upper face of the needle-plate. With thediagonally-supported vibrating cutter 22 it will be apparent that theposition of the cutter in the groove determines the elevation of thecutting edge, the sliding of the cutter acting to raise or lower thesaid edge, and to enable the cutter 22 to be readily positioned thecarriage 29 is provided with a projection 29C, located directly over thecutter and of such length that its end and the cutting end of the IOSIIO

IIS

cutter register when the latter is in the proper position for operation.The projection 29c therefore not only forms a gage by means of which thediagonal adjustment of the Ycutter in the carriage is readily indicated,but also forms a backing to receive the thrust or pressure of thecutterimmediately in line with the point at which the cutters operate.

As before mentioned, the carriage 29 is adjustably secured to theprojection 24d of the vibrating carrier or lever 24, the parts beingsecured by providing a hole 24f, Fig. 9, through the said projection,such hole formi ing a channel across the bottom wall of the dovetail way24e and the lower portion of the front face of the projection 24d. Thedovetail rib 29e of the carriage 29 is cut away, as at 29f, Fig. lO, topermit a bolt 32 to be located in the hole and channel 24?, the saidbolt being provided with a head 32, shaped substantially like the lowerportion of the projection 24d, and it is further provided with a nut32h. It will be obvious that upon tightening the nut 32b the bolt-head32 will be drawn into engagement with the dovetail rib 29e of thecarriage 29, thus clamping the latter to the projection 24*l of thecarrier 24, lor upon loosening the nut 321 the said carriage may beadjusted laterally Within the limits of the cut-away portion 29f of itsdovetail rib.

In the machine shown in the drawings the adjustment of the carriage 29is intended to be made by hand or with the use of any convenient tool;but obviously ordinary mechanical means may be employed when founddesirable.

For supporting the cutter 23 a standard 33 is provided, located attheleft of the machine-frame 10 as the machine is viewed from its frontside. The cutter 23 is secured to a carriage 34, adjustably mounted uponthe standard 33, the latter being preferably provided with a dovetailway 33, Fig. 7, for the reception of a dovetail rib 34a on the saidcarriage.' The adjustment of the said carriage is toward and from themachine proper and is effected by a screw 35, mounted in the standard 33and having a flange 35a entering a slot in the carriage 34, as bestshown in Fig. 5. To retain the carriage 34 in an adj usted position,substantially the same means are employed as are employed in connectionwith the carriage 29 and already described- Viz., the standard 33 isprovided vwith a hole for the reception of a bolt 36, having a head 36,suitably shaped to engage and clamp the dovetail rib 34a of the carriage34. A covformed with an upwardly-extending' portion 34b to provide abacking and support for the cutter and to prevent deiiection thereof,and

in thepreferred construction the top surface of said upwardly-extendingportion is nearly in or'slightly above the plane of the upper surface ofthe needleplate to permit the presser-foot to clamp the fabric tightlyat this point while the cutting is going on. The forward corner 34, Fig.7, of the top of the carriage extension 34b is rounded to facilitate thepassage of the fabric, as is also the corresponding corner of the cutter23. The cutter 23 is preferably located in a diagonal groove 34e, formedin the carriage 34 and in its npwardly-extending portion 34h, the cutterbeing retained in the said groove by a clamp 37, located in a horizontalgroove or recess in the carriage 34, and when in position therein issubstantially flush with the face of the'said carriage. The clamp 37 atits end adjacent the cutter 23 is adapted to engage the edge of the saidcutter and is itself held by a screw 38, Fig. 4, located in the carriage34, and which when turned inward forces and holds the clamp in contactwith the edge of the cutter and clamps the latter against the oppositewall of the diagonal groove 34. To enable the clamp-screw 3S to bereadily reached and manipulated, an elongated slot 33h, Fig. l, isprovided in the standard 33. The clamp 37 has at its end adjacent thecutter 23 a groove 37iL to receive thev cutter and preferably a shoulderor wing 37D to engage the face of the cutter, as shown in Fig. 7, toprevent lateral displacement of the said cutter when loosened.

The confronting portions of the machineframe 10 and the standard 33 arecut away to 'receive a chute 39, the chute in turn being IOO cut away,as at 39, where it would otherwise interfere with the trimmingmechanism, said chute being also provided with an inclined wall 39h, onwhich the clippings from the cutters fall and travel from the machine.

The standard 33 in addition to supporting the carriage 34 also supportsthe needle-plate 19, in one of the openings 19a of which latter theprojection 34b of the carriage and the fixed cutter is located, as bestshown in Fig. 6.

When a machine of the type shown and described is fitted up with theimproved trimming mechanism, certain arrangements of the threads aredesirable to facilitate vthe threading of the looper or loopers. Thethread 40, which is 'conducted to one of the loopers, is introduced tothe interior of the machine through a diagonal tube 4l in amannersimilar to that commonly practiced, the said tube being placed lowenough to carry the thread 40 beneath the lower end of the chute39. Thelooper-thread 42 is carried be- IIC igo

Ele

in a path at the rear of the end of the said block 45. The block 45serves not only to conduct the thread, but also constitutes a meanswhereby the needle plate may be readily positioned on the standard 33,the upper edge of the said block extending into a groove in the underside of the needle-plate to locate the same laterally, as shown in Figs.1, 4, and 5. It also forms a support for the said needle-plate directlyunder the presserfoot and in proximity to the needle-hole.

The machine shown in the drawings is arranged to trim and finish smalltubular fabric, and when thus arranged the described support for theneedle-plate is desirable, inasmuch as the principal support for theneedle-plate is far forward of the needle-hole to accommodate theadjustable lower cutter, as well as the feed. In order to leave thedesired space under the outside edge of the needle-plate for thereturning edge of small tubular work, this block 45 is placed as near tothe feed and is made as thin as possible.

The lower end of the chute 39 projects beyond the machine-frame l0 toprotect the threads 40 and 42, passing beneath the same, and as afurther protection for the thread 42 the standard 33 is provided withribs 33d, between which the said thread renders in its course from theeye 44 to the block 45. The vertical wall of the chute is also formed toproject beyond the face of the door l0a as a further protection for thethreads from contact with the clippings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sewing-machine, in combination, a chambered main frame adaptedto receive portions of the machines mechanism, trimming mechanismincluding a vibrating and a coperating relatively xed cutter, a carrierfor the vibrating cutter located within the chamber and projected at itspivoted end through an opening in the chamber-wall, a cap within whichthe said end of the carrier is pivotally supported secured to thechamber-wall to close the opening therethrough for the purpose set forthand substantially as described.

.2. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines, the combination with afixed cutter, of a cooperating reciprocatory cutter diagonally supportedrelatively to the plane of the face of its cutting end and diagonally tothe plane of the work-support and arranged to reciprocate bodily in aplane parallel with the plane of its cutting end, said reciprocatorycutter and its cooperating cutter both being adjustable bodily in a lineparallel with the work-support to vary the width of the trimmed edge,and means for actuating the reciprocatory cutter, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines, the combination with afixed cutter, of a cooperating reciprocatory cutter diagonally supportedrelatively to the plane of the face of its cutting end and diagonally tothe plane of the work-support and arranged to reciprocate bodily in aplane parallel with the plane of its cutting end, said reciprocatorycutter being bodily adjustable by independent means both in a plane atright angles to the plane of the face of its cutting end and in a planediagonal with respect to the plane of the face of its cutting end andmeans for actuating the said cutter; substantially as described.

4. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines, the combination with afixed cutter, ot' a reciprocatory-cutter carrier, a carriage laterallyadj usted on said carrier, a cutter on the carriage, diagonallysupportedrelatively to the plane of the face of its cutting end and diagonally tothe plane of the worksupport and arranged to reciprocate bodily inaplane parallel with the plane of its cutting end and means foractuatingthe carrier; substantially as described.

5. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines, the combination with afixed cutter, of a reciprocatory-cutter carrier, a carriage adjustablymounted on said carrier, a cutter on the carriage diagonally supportedrelatively to the plane of the face of its cutting end and diagonally tothe plane of the worksupport and arranged to reciprocate bodily in aplane parallel with the plane of its reciprocatory cutting end, saidcutter being bodily adjustable on the carriage diagonally to the planeof the face o' its cutting end and means for actuating the carrier;substantially as described.

6. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines, the combination with atixed cutter, of a reciprocatory-cutter carrier, a carriage laterallyadjustable on said carrier, a cutter on the carriage diagonallysupported relatively to the plane of the face of its cutting end anddiagonally to the plane of the work-support and arranged to reciprocatebodily in a plane parallel with the plane ot' its cutting end, saidreciprocatory cutter being bodily adjusted on the carriage diagonally tothe plane of the face of its cutting end and means for actuating thecarrier; substantially as described.

7. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines, the combination with arelatively ixed cutter adjustable bodily toward and from the line ofcut, of a reciprocatory-cut- IOO ter carrier, a carriage laterallyadjustable on l 13o; l

ed on the carrier and having a groove therein to receive the movablecutter the rear wall of which groove lies in a plane substantially atright angles to the plane of the cutters move-2 ments and means foractuating the movable the cutter to force the latter into engagement`with the opposite Wall of the groove said clamp cutter, substantiallyas described.

9. In a trimming mechanism for sewing machines, the combination of avibrating and a coperating relatively xed cutter, a car-1` rier for thevibrating cutter, a carriage adjustably mounted on the carrier andhavingV a diagonal groove therein in which the cut-1 .ter is located,said groove extending in a plane substantially at right angles to theplane in which the cutter vibrates and being; adapted to receive thepressure of the said cutter on its side wall, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines,the combination ofcooperating cutters, one diagonally supported relatively to the plane ofthe face otY its'cutting end and diagonally to the plane of thework-support said cutter being provided with a wing guard or guideextending in the plane of the faceof the cutting end whereby the face ofthe cutting end and Wing-guard may be simultaneously dressed in a singleplane and means for reciprocating one cutter bodilyin a plane parallelwith the plane of said cutting end; substantially as described.

l1. In atrimmer for sewing-machines, a relatively fixed cutter incombination with a reciprocatory cutter formed by a bar having twolongitudinallysextending wings or iia-ng'es, forming respectively aguard or guide and a cutting edge, the face of the cutting end and theguard or guide extending in a single'plane whereby the cutting edge andwingguard may be simultaneously dressed in a single plane forcooperation with the relatively fixed cutter without changing theirshape; substantially as described.

12. In a trimmer for sewing-machines, the combination of an operatingand a relatively fixed cutter, a support having a groove therein toreceive the fixed cutter, a clampmounted onthe support and engaging theedge' of having a wing or shoulder engaging the face of the said knife,substantially as described.

13. In a sewing-machine the combination of trimming mechanism, includingamovable and a cooperating relatively fixed cutter, an adjustablecarriage for the fixed cutter forming a support for the material onwhich the l cutters operate andbetwe'en which and the presser-foot thefabric or material may be clamped, substantially as described.

. 14:. In a sewing-machine, the combination of a plate, a trimmingmechanism including a movable and a coperating relatively fixedlaterally-adjustable cutter, a carriage for the fixed cutter, a supportfor the carriage and plate, a block on the support extending over thepath ofthe carriage to support and laterally locate the plate,substantially asdescribed.

15. In a trimming mechanism for sewingmachines, the combination with arelatively ixed cutter, located below the plane ofthe work, of areciprocatory cutter located above the plane of the work and formed by abar having longitudinally arranged Wings or flanges one extendingforwardly and forming a cutting edge and the other extending downwardlyand forming a wing guard or guide for cooperation with the other cutterthe end Witnesses:

ALONZO M. LUTHER, EDWARD K. GRUNTLER.

